Engineering Week aims for bigger,better things

This is the 50th anniversary for Texas Tech's Engineering Week, and the College of Engineering is making it bigger and better than ever.

"Basically we're trying to get more stuff. It hasn't been that big in the past," said Janna White, publicity chairman for the student engineering council. "We're trying to get a little more enthusiasm."

The first main event for Engineering Week will be a project display called "Thinking Outside the Key" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Organizations within the College of Engineering will set up exhibits to demonstrate the role of engineering in everyday life.

"The different engineering colleges work on projects during the year," she said. "This shows the college a few projects that engineering works on and what engineering students do. We don't just sit working on calculations."

This exhibit will be set up outdoors between the University Center and the library.

A banquet will be held Thursday at the Science Spectrum with keynote speaker U.S. Navy Vice Admiral George P. Nanos Jr., commander of naval sea systems command.

Nanos is responsible for all facets of the Navy's ships, shipboard weapons and combat systems.

Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students.

Appetizers will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the meal will begin at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale in the Dean of Engineering office through Tuesday.

There will be a cookout from 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday behind the Electrical Engineering Building.

The week will conclude with an Engineering Day at the Science Spectrum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

"This is like a smaller scale of Wednesday," White said. "It will have hands-on stuff. It's aimed at fourth through 10th grades, but any age can participate. This is to try to make learning fun."

In the past, Engineering Day at the Science Spectrum has been the focus of Engineering Week, she said.

Stephanie Queen can be contacted at 766-8725 or squeen@lubbockonline.com